You are a force you are a constant source...

 ... of new beetles.

Last night's warm temperatures had me putting out two light traps in the garden, one MV and one actinic. The latter often delivers the better diversity of beetles especially in the first hour or two of darkness.

However, it is rubbish at holding the beetles as there are too many small escape routes for smaller stuff to leave by. The trick is to hang around the trap and regularly check the sides and surrounding area and pooter up the most interesting bits for further scrutiny.

I quickly found some Bradycellus verbasci, Trechus quadristriatus, Anotylus rugosus as well a couple of Cryptophagus that will need further inspection before I probably cry and give up.

Then two of these beetles appeared...

My first thought was that it was a Mycetophagus species, but the size of 2.5mm ruled that out. I then used the old rule that if you can't get a beetle to family then go and check the Tenebrionidae! 

So this is Alphitophagus bifasciatus aka the 'two-banded fungus (or flour) beetle. It's an established introduction and there doesn't appear to be a huge number of records (33 on NBN and 2 on iRecord). It is usually found in mouldy grain and flour and occasionally in rotting vegetation and on fungi.

New for me and new for the garden. The light traps continue to deliver 😀